I think a good analogy is that a musician requires high technical skill, but also needs to create art. Playing scales is not making art. The best pianists all

I think a good analogy is that a musician requires high technical skill, but also needs to create art. Playing scales is not making art. The best pianists all have great technical ability, but it's their ability to communicate their musical feelings and explore the music that makes them great. Being a pianist that can play all the scales perfectly is not well-regarded a a musician. Technical skills are still a requirement. Let's not kid ourselves.